Rock tumbling device



Sept. 39, 1967 J. cARsTENs ROCK TUMBLING DE ICE 2 Sheetsfiheet 1.

Filed Jan. 13, 1965 INVE NTOR GE RALD J CARSTENS y 14 AT TOR NEY p 1967cs. J. CARSTENS 3,341,978

ROCK TUMBLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTORGERALD J. CARSTENS ATTO RNEY United States Patent 3,341,978 ROCKTUMBLING DEVICE Gerald J. Carstens, 1026 S. 3rd St, Las Vegas, Nev.89101 Filed Jan. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 425,270 3 Claims. (Cl. 51-163)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A polishing machine which is formed to imparta rocking and tumbling movement to articles in an upwardly open U-shapedvessel through use of a vibrator.

This invention relates to rock tumbling machines, and more particularlyto a rock tumbling device actuated by a vibrator. Machines of this classare used to grind, or polish, rocks, gems, or similar material.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with the production of polished rocks,crystals and the like, that it is important to subject the entiresurfaces of the rocks, or the like, to abrasion. This may require acontinuous abrading operation over a relatively long period of time. Itis the prime purpose of the invention to provide an economical andefficient means of polishing or grinding rocks, gems or the like withoutany particular mechanical knowledge or skill.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that employs a novel and efficient vibrating and tumblingaction to cause the material or grit to agitate particles beingprocessed to insure continuous and substantially uniform grindingaction.

The device enables simple construction, is easy to manipulate, andhighly eflicient for the purpose for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of the invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembly constituting theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the assembly shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front view of the assembled device; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the rockpolisher.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and referring specifically now to the same, thecharacter designates a bucket, or container, which may be open at thetop. It preferably has a U-shaped cross section. It may be comprised ofa back plate 11, a front plate 12, two side or end plates 13 and 13' anda curvilinear bottom plate 13". The bucket or receptacle may be formedby bending a single plate of metal to define the front, bottom and backplates 12, 13", and 11, respectively, into an upwardly open U shape,while the side or end plates 13 and 13' are welded thereto.

The back plate 11 supports a member 14 extending upwardly above the opentop of the receptacle to support a conventional vibrating device 15,which device is electrically actuated. It may be energized through acurrent supply line shown as 16. Bolts 17 may be used to secure thevibrator on the member 14.

Member 14 may be defined by an extension of back plate 11.

The vibrating unit 15 may be of type which employs a solenoid actionhaving a core which is movable through a small fraction of an inch or soand returned by a spring arrangement. Electric vibrators of the typecommonly 334L978. Patented Sept. 19, 1967 used on vibrating types ofsanding machines are satisfactory. It is preferably so mounted on thereceptacle that the forces imparted to the receptacle under theinfluence of the movement of the core of the solenoid is transversely tothe front and rear wall or in the direction of the arrow illustrated inFIGURE 2.

A supporting base is formed to support the receptacle 10 for limitedrocking movement. As is shown in the drawings, the base includesupstanding supporting standards for each end of the bucket. Eachstandard may be formed from an upwardly open U-shaped rod providing rearlegs 18, front legs 18' and bottom portions 19. The standards may beconnected by members 20. The upper ends of the legs of the standards arecurvilinearly formed so as to receive and hold supporting rods for thebucket.

One supporting rod 22 extends horizontally through apertures 23 in theside walls 13 and 13 of the bucket 10, for pivotally supporting thebucket 10. The ends of the rod 22 extend through the curvilinearlyformed portions 21 on the upper ends of the two rearwardly disposedvertical supporting members 18, and are shown held in position by nuts24 on threaded end portions of rod 22.

Another supporting rod 25 extends horizontally across from one verticalsupport 18' to the other, through the curvilinearly formed loops 21, andheld by the threaded nuts 26.

Rod 25 supports two springs 27, which have their lower ends engagingapertures 28 in the side walls 13 and 13' of the buckets 10. In thismanner, the bucket 10 is pivotally supported at its rear side by the rod22, and resiliently supported at the opposite or front side by thesprings 27 supported by the rod 25.

In use, the vibrator imparts pulsating forces to the upper portion ofthe rear wall of the receptacle which may be in the direction of thearrows indicated in FIG- URE 2. These pulsating forces induce a rockingmovement of the receptacle about the axis of the pivotal supporting rod22 in a clockwise direction. These forces are opposed by the springs 27.Due to the direction of the forces involved, the material within thereceptacle will follow a more or less arcuate path defined by thereceptacle while moving from the rear thereof toward the front. It alsoundergoes some movement toward one or the other of the sides. During thecourse of such movement, the material is abraded by the grit within thereceptacle and tumbled about. As the material tends to pile up towardthe front of the receptacle, it may naturally fall back toward thebottom of the receptacle.

In practice, the receptacle may be operated when approximately half fullof stones with abrasive grit mixed with the stones.

With a typical installation, a -volt 60-cycle alternating currentsolenoid type vibrator may deliver on the order of 14,000 vibrations perminute. Due to the rapid pulsating forces involved, the overall tumblingtime required to polish rocks or stones may be lessened with comparisonto the rotary or eccentric types of polishers.

The method of applying the particular pulsating forces to cause rotationand tumbling of material within the bucket or receptacle may be employedwith variant forms of hoppers and supporting instrumentalities. Forexample, in FIGURE 4, a receptacle is comprised of a curvilinear frontplate 12' which merges with and which may be unitarily formed with acurvilinear back plate having an upwardly extending portion 14', andside or end plates 30 and 31. The vibrating unit 15', which is similarto unit 15, is mounted on the wall portion 14' which extends above theopen top of the receptacle. As formed, the receptacle has across-sectional contour similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 1 through3. In FIGURE 4, however,

the side or end plates 30 and 31 include outwardly extending supportingflanges 32 and 33 at the lower portions of the plates for purposes ofmounting the unit. The unit is mounted on a suitable base member as isrepresented by the sheet 36 by means of bolts 34 which are passedthrough or fixed in the supporting base and extended thereabove andthrough apertures in the flanges 32 and 33. Com pression springs 35surround the bolts and bear against the under surfaces of the flanges 32and 33 and the upper surface of the base. Nuts 34' are fitted on thebolts to hold the flanges and unit against the springs. The unit is thusspring supported.

It is preferable to have such supporting spring assemblies at each sideof and at the rear of the unit and at each side of and at the front ofthe unit as illustrated. Thus, pulsating forces transmitted to thereceptacle by the vibrator 15 cause rocking movement of the receptacleabout an axis located at the rear of the unit. The springs oppose suchrocking movement and in so doing produce movement of the receptacle andmovement of material therein in a manner like that described withrespect to FIGURES 1 through 3.

Whereas I have shown and described an operative form of the invention,it should be understood that this showing and description thereof shouldbe taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are manymodifications in and to the invention which will fall within the scopeand spirit thereof and which will be apparent to those skilled in theart. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope ofthe hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rock polishing machine including an upwardly open receptacleadapted to contain a bed of abrasive grit and rock-like materialtherein, said receptacle having forward, bottom and rear walls formed ina generally upwardly open U-shape, means resiliently supporting saidreceptacle for limited rocking movement, support means extendingupwardly above the open top of the receptacle from the rear wall of saidreceptacle, and a pulsating vibrator positioned on said support means,said vibrator having means to produce pulsating forces directedperpendicular to the place of and across the front and rear of saidreceptacle whereby pulsating forces imparted to said receptacle causesaid receptacle to rock about an axis adjacent the rear of thereceptacle and cause material within said receptacle to follow agenerally arcuate path defined by said receptacle while being tumbledabout and abraded therein.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supportingsaid receptacle include outwardly extended flanges at the ends of saidreceptacle and resilient means engaged between said flanges and asupporting base.

3. A rock polishing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said meansfor supporting said receptacle include an upstanding supporting stand,said stand including support means at the forward, rear and ends of saidreceptacle and springs between said stand and the forward and rearportions of said receptacle and at the opposite ends thereof so as toresiliently support said receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,104 5/1933 Bell.

2,284,671 6/ 1942 Meinzer.

2,423,019 6/1947 Haines 51--163 2,831,576 4/ 1958- Wehner.

2,912,803 11/1959 Simjian 51-7 X 3,108,408 10/ 1963 Dahlquis-t 51l633,157,004 11/ 1964 Musschoot 517 3,183,630 5/1965 Wright 51163 3,267,6208/1966 Dayton 51-l63 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. A ROCK POLISHING MACHINE INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY OPEN RECEPTACLEADAPTED TO CONTAIN A BED OF ABRASIVE GRIT AND ROCK-LIKE MATERIALTHEREIN, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING FORWARD, BOTTOM AND REAR WALLS FORMED INA GENERALLY UPWARDLY OPEN U-SHAPE, MEANS RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING SAIDRECEPTACLE FOR LIMITED ROCKING MOVEMENT, SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDINGUPWARDLY ABOVE THE OPEN TOP OF THE RECEPTACLE FROM THE REAR WALL OF SAIDRECEPTACLE, AND A PULSATING VIBRATOR POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS,SAID VIBRATOR